Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams

"Xbox Version <= PS2 Version???"

Alright, I'd like to say that I am a huge fan of the Silent Hill series ever since the first one scared the hell out of me. Being a tool like I am, I'd go to the ends of the earth to get Silent Hill. So, even though I don't have a box, I do have this review of the Xbox version vs the PS2 version of Silent Hill 2.

Control: 9/10
First off, I'd like to state the stereotypical reason this is a 9, not a 10. The Xbox controller just doesn't fit the human hand. However, if you like this controller, there's yet another reason. The control can be a bit shakey to master if you've never played a horror genre game before. The 3d style in which up=forward is a new one to many people; it sure was to me. However, the game has included both styles of control, so for anyone not appreciating the horror style controls, it can be changed to the normal game style (2d). The fact that they have this option alone makes this game awesome. I prefer the 3d style because it makes controlling James that much harder, and thus the game is that much more spooky. It brings home the fact that he's just a normal guy, not some SWAT team member.

Graphics: 10/10
Yep, in the graphics department this game is awesome. I find it comparable to Metal Gear and Final Fantasy X, both of which have blockbuster graphics. The faces change expression, the mouths move in time, and it all around looks great. I will note that if you use the grain filter, which was NOT the way the game was meant to be played, yes, the faces look a bit too sharp, but that's not the games fault. The grain effect is there to give the game an old movie like feel, and it takes that edge off all of the graphics, making them more appreciable. Another note, the monsters in this game had to be toned down because the graphics were so good. Thus far, Konami has had to fight fairly hard to keep this game as only mature, not AO (adult only) rating because of the settings. The child demons did not make an appearance in this game cheifly because seeing children as demons with such good graphics would frankly blow many parents' minds.

Story: 9/10
The ONLY reason this is not a 10 out of 10 is because giving it a 10 would degrade the first game. As opposed to ANY other game on the market, this game has by far the most intricate and believable plot. I found the game to be intriguing and amazing. The plot twists will take your breath away. If you play this game, I recommend above all things NOT to read a walkthrough or plot guide until you have beaten it at least once. All I can say is excellent!

Music: 10/10
I look for music in all of my games, and Silent Hill in general has the most addictive music I've ever heard. I went and payed 30$ for the CD just to get it.

Overall: 9/10 (not an average)
I can't rate this game against the PS2 version, because they are primarily the same thing. I'd recommend picking one of them up as soon as possible. The extra sidequest in this game is good, but it's not worth loosing sleep over.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/01/02, Updated 02/01/02